Device for operating car couplers



July 9,1935. G G LP N 2,007,756

DEVICE FOR OPERATING CAR GOUPLERS Original Filed April 3, 1929 jzzventor I Garth 6: 61 601)?) Patented July 9, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2,007,756 DEVICE FOR OPERATING'CAR COUPLER/S Garth G. Gilpin, Riverside, 111., assignor to Union Metal Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Original application April 3, 1929, Serial No. 352,126. Patent No. 1,798,464, dated March 31, 1931. Divided and this application March 14,

1931, Serial N0. 522,582

3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for operating railway car couplers having a pivoted knuckle provided with a tail engageable with a knuckle lock' to which such device is operatively connected. The invention relates specifically to a railway car coupler having an anti-creep feature which is so formed that the lock can be raised toan unlocked'position by the operating device, but can not be raised by the creeping action of the lock due to the service movements of the car. Some of such couplersare provided with a member mounted upon the underside of the coupler head for transmittingoperating movements to the lock. 1

object of the invention is to provide an operating rod forsuoh couplers having a shank which is so formed and associated with parts of the ear, or preferably a bracket mounted on the car, so as to stabilize the rod by gravity against a rotative movement thereof which would release the coupler anti-creep feature.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an operating rod with a depending handle and to associate the above mentioned bracket or car part with the handle to prevent a swinging movement of the handle which would cause a rotative movement of the operating rod and release the coupler anti-creep feature.

Another object of the invention is to provide the operating rod with an eccentric element cooperating with the above mentioned bracket or car part in such a, way that the rotative movement of the rod (or a swinging movement of the handle) would elevate or raise one end (at least) of the rod so that the gravitational force of the rod tends to stabilize the rod against the rotative movement which would release the coupler anti-creep feature. 7

This objectionable swinging movement of the handle is caused by the irregular movements of the train in service, particularly the quick variations in the speed of the train.

In the drawing:

Figs. 1 and 2 show a typical application of my device to a railway car coupler.

Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive are enlargements showing the relation between the rod and the bracket.

The car coupler 2 is resiliently mounted on the car and arranged to move longitudinally and laterally of the car to accommodate the service movements thereof. For description of the operation and component parts of an ordinary coupler, reference is made to Patent No. 1,639,300 of August 16, 1927, which coupler is not only typical as showing the relation of the knuckle and the look, but also shows the member 3 rotatably mounted on the coupler for transmitting the operating movements to the lock which comprises a substantially horizontally disposed eye 4 for reception of a hook 5 on the operating rod 3 whereby rotation of the rod rotates the rotor member and operates the coupler.

The coupler shown in Patent No. 1,639,300 of August 16, 1927, also illustrates a typical coupler anti-creep feature wherein the lower part of the knuckle lock is provided witn an obliquely positioned slot which is engaged by the operating mechanism. The coupler head is provided with a projection which is so positioned that a part of the operating mechanism engages it and prevents the lock from creeping upwardly. When the operating rod is rotated the same part of the operating mechanism moves upwardly until it engages the upper part of the obliquely positioned slot, in which position it is free to pass the projection on the coupler head and raise the going between the cars.

A bracket i t is mounted upon the car which is provided with a substantially vertical wall I l and upwardly inclined surface I3 extending therefrom with a guard I5 above such surface. The operating rod 2 is provided with a depending handle 1 and an upwardly extending eccentric portion ll. The rod is normally supported by the bracket lll adjacent the lower part l8 of the.

inclined surface !3 and preferably below the guard ill with the upwardly extending eccentric portion 5 l positioned adjacent the vertical wall II of the bracket. Even if the eccentric portion I1 is not used the inclined surface l3 maintains the handle 1 adjacent the wall I I so that the rod is stabilized against a rotative movement. A retaining device it is preferably provided between the member forming the upwardly inclined surface and the guard member.

The rotor member 3 on the coupler is rotated by swinging the handle I of the rod outwardly from the car, which outwardly swinging movement engages the upwardly extending eccentric portion I! of the rod with the wall H of the bracket and causes the rod to ride up the inclined surface l3, thereby physically raising the outer part of the rod. When the handle is released the weight of such outer part of the rod and the handle causes the rod to slide down the inclined surface and the handle to return to normal position. By this mechanism the rod is stabilized against a rotative movement.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and dc scribed, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 352,126, fil-ed April 3, 1929, Patent No. 1,798,464, March 31, 1931.

I claim:

1. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a coupler having a member mounted upon the coupler to move therewith and arranged to operate said coupler upon rotation thereof, said means comprising a bracket mounted upon the car having a substantially vertical wall with an upwardly inclined surface extending therefrom, and an operating rod operatively connected to the member which comprises a depending handle and an upwardly extending eccentric portion, said rod normally supported by said bracket adjacent the lower part of said inclined surface with the eccentric portion positioned adjacent said wall, whereby an outwardly swinging movement of the handle engages said eccentric portion with the wall of the bracket and causes the rod to ride up the inclined surface so that upon release of the handle the handle and operating rod return to normal position by gravity.

2. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a coupler having a member mounted upon the coupler to move therewith and arranged to operate said coupler upon rotation thereof, said means comprising a bracket mounted upon the car having a substantially vertical wall with an upwardly inclined surface extending therefrom with a guard above said surface, and an operating rod operatively connected to the member which comprises a depending handle and an upwardly extending eccentric portion, said rod normally supported by said bracket adjacent the lower part of said inclined surface below said guard member with the eccentric portion positioned adjacent said wall, whereby an outwardly swinging movement of the handle engages said eccentric portion with the wall of the bracket and causes the rod to ride up the inclined surface so that upon release of the handle the handle and operating rod return to normal position by gravity.

3. In a railway car, an operating means for use with a coupler having a member mounted upon the coupler to move therewith and arranged to operate said coupler upon rotation thereof, said means comprising a bracket mounted upon the car having a substantially vertical wall with an upwardly inclined surface extending therefrom, said wall comprising an upper part above its junction with said inclined surface and a lower part below said junction, and an operating rod operatively connected to the member which comprises a depending handle and an upwardly extending eccentric portion, said rod normally supported by said bracket adjacent the lower part of said inclined surface with the eccentric portion positioned adjacent said upper part and the handle adjacent said lower part, whereby an outwardly swinging movement of the handle engages said eccentric portion with the upper part and'causes the rod to ride up the inclined surface so that upon release of the handle the handle and operating rod return to normal position by gravity in engagement with said lower part, whereby the handle is stabilized against a swinging movement.

GARTH G. GILPIN. 

